Any cyclists around to help a beginner who's just bought a bike?

[Siw2020]

Hello

I have just bought a new bike having not cycled since being a child/teenager. I will be moving to a city centre hospital for work that is notorious for not having car parking availability.. hence the new bike investment.

Can any of you lovely people get me started with what essentials I need to get and make recommendations?

So far on my list of things to get is:

• helmet
• lock
• lights
• rack/pannier(?)
• pump
• inner tube (not a clue how I know which one)
• cleaning material
• clothes (gloves, padded shorts/leggings, base layer, high vis)

Anything else? I would really appreciate recommendations, feeling utterly lost with options!

bike lights. front and back.
Bell.

@TheVanguardSix

bike lights. front and back. Bell.

Thank you - any in particular you'd recommend?

And get two D locks or a D lock and a good chain lock.
I recommend Kryptonite locks.
Carry a towel with you to wipe the bike down in case it's in the rain while you're at work, etc.
you can also get a rainproof seat cover to protect the seat when the bike is locked up (again, while you're shopping/at work/etc).
Your inner tube will depend on how big your tyres are.
www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/bike-inner-tubes/

Also, get a tyre patching kit. I've gone years with the same tyres just by patching punctures instead of replacing the whole inner tube. But you'll need to know how to change a tyre or patch one. Watch a few youtube videos and you'll learn fast. There's no point in getting an inner tube if you don't know how to replace them. So there's no rush to buy one. Also, if you have a local cycle workshop, it can be easier and quicker to have them replace your inner tubes or patch your punctures.

I just get my lights off of Amazon to be honest.

My favourite ones are these: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01EJ6LKPY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

The beam is strong and they've been really reliable. They're easy to charge up.

You'll go through a few bike lights, just to warn you. It's not something you need to spend loads of money on because they get stolen or they just stop working for no reason. I tend to take mine with me when I hop off my bike. And these are really easy to take off and put on.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KFCYUYK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

I have this bell on both of my bikes. I love it! It gives off a good, solid ring without being obnoxious. It's got a lovely sound and it really alerts people without you worrying about sounding rude.

Bells are a weird one, I know. But they really, really are worth using, especially if cycling is going to be your main mode of transport and not just a recreational activity you'll be doing once in a while. You want a good bell. It's worth it. I've had these ones for about 3 years now.

Get a d-lock, Kryptonite and Oxford are reliable. Practice putting the lock through the frame as well as the wheels, if you put it just through the wheel it could still be stolen.

A pannier rack is handy but for now a rucksack will do the job.

Inner tube - look at the tyre and the size will be printed on the side. If it’s a hybrid you’ll probably need a 700c Presta valve tube www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/bike-inner-tubes/

Get some tyre levers, and a multi tool as well, I’d practice replacing the inner tube indoors in front of a YouTube video so you don’t have to do it for the first time by the side of the road in the rain!

Mudguards- you can get clip on ones that keep the worst of the road muck off.

A waterproof jacket like the Altura Night Vision is a good idea, and once you’ve got some lights, ask a friend to watch you ride and make sure the lights are visible and not covered by your coat.

Are you in London? If you are, I'd recommend getting in touch with Cycle Buddies and/or one of the in-line cycling groups.
They can give enormous amounts of support.

Hiplock locks are great, and easy to carry
We buy lights from Aldi when they have their cycle events as they are so easily replaced when they fall off/ stop working/ get nicked, but the Planet X ones have proved to be great too. Get two sets so you can have one on charge.
How far will you be cycling? If it isn't that far, I'd get some of the VeloVixen padded pants then you can wear stuff you have already like gym leggings
For visibility, Proviz is the best I've seen - they are incredibly reflective so you really do light up in the dark, and something like the reversible gilet gives you hi vis in the day and reflective in the half light or dark. They have gloves that give you the same visibility

Invest in really good gloves and a buff.

Good waterproof trousers to get you through winter and avoid a wet bum. A good D lock which you need to use on your back wheel when you attach your bike to a rack. Scope out the best, safest cycle parking at work to avoid your nice new shiny bike becoming a target for that. Public space with lots of other bikes - try to lock up your bike next to a bike that has a worse lock than yours so your bike is not the easies target for thieves. Spares for your lights. Always carry spares. And light yourself and your bike up like a Xmas tree so car drivers don’t have an excuse of not being able to see you. Find a good local bike repair shop near home and near work who can fix punctures to reduce your risk of being stranded anywhere (I am lazy and hate changing inner tubes - imho paying someone to do it is money well spent). Put a security marking on your bike and register it with the police site bikeregister.com

Also check out different route options - longer, off road routes may not look like the best option on a map, but could end up being quicker and safer and less stressful.

Water bottle.
Or bag with water bladder in.
Camelbac or similar.
Do you wear glasses? Some lens cleaner might be useful. And a strap thing to gou behind your head; to hold them if the fall off

You need a cycle map that shows you quieter routes, you get a completely different experience that way. f its london there are free ones you can get them certain tube stations and cycle shops. I am guessing there are apps too. My top tip is it always seems like a complete nightmare first time you try a new route to work, but the second time you know wherebto go and it is fine. I am a keen cyclist and I haven't bought half the stuff on this thread.

If in a city, use City Mapper and select cycling/ quiet route and it’ll take you some lovely routes.

I started cycling in the first lockdown and when we were back in the office, I started cycling to work. I was doing about 12 miles there and then back again, which felt like an achievement for a novice travelling through hilly south London!

A little spray can of WD40 is very handy for any squeaky bits! If you’re getting a rack and panniers I’d highly recommend Ortleib ones - nice and roomy and completely waterproof.

Proviz jacket - I have the full sleeve jacket, it’s waterproof and SUPER reflective.

Lights - get the best (brightest) lights you can afford, I have some which attach using a rubber strap and are really easy to remove. Never leave them on your bike. I keep my charging cables in my rucksack and charge my lights up at my desk while I work.

Helmet - I have a really brightly coloured helmet for extra visibility

Waterproof trousers - depending on the length/hilliness of your journey, you might get away with a cheap pair. You want to avoid arriving drenched in sweat if you can’t shower when you get there, but waterproof trousers are great and you will probably arrive dry, unlike your colleagues who’ve made a dash from the car park in their ballet pumps.

Shoes/boots - something waterproof. I wear wellies or trainers depending on the weather and change into a pair of work shoes I keep under my desk.

Cycling proficiency - find out how to be a good and confident cyclist. This could be through a course or just be reading a lot about it. Cycling confidently and predictably makes it easy for other road users to react to you.

JoyRiders Britain (or London, they seem to be in the middle of a name change!) do weekly Zoom calls for women from diverse communities about everything bike related. It's road position this week. You can find them on FB.

I would recommend the knog blinders for be seen lights, and the lezyne macro drive for a seeing light for riding in the dark. They all fit with rubber straps so you can remove them (and charge them at work if needed).

A good spares/repairs kit is an essential. Basics are Inner tube correctly sized for your bike, tyre levers, some tube repair patches, pair of disposable mechanics gloves, small multitool and a £20 note for if all of the above fails, plus a card with your ICE details on. These can all go in a saddle bag/pannier or a pot that goes in a bottle cage depending on your bike. Then a good quality pump that can mount on your frame or can carry in panniers. For small and lightweight vs good roadside performance me and DP both use the Topeak MiniMorph G for commuting and pre-covid we did nearly 200 commuter miles a week between us.

When you are at home get comfortable taking your wheels off and replacing the inner tube and tyre. Look up GCN on youtube, they have loads of really handy videos on how to but its a pretty simple job that seems to intimidate a lot of people.

Get some tyre levers, and a multi tool as well, I’d practice replacing the inner tube indoors in front of a YouTube video so you don’t have to do it for the first time by the side of the road in the rain!

If you have a local independent bike shop, see if they'll give you a demo.

Despite having ridden a road bike for donkey's years, DS's MTB tyres totally defeated me until the nice bloke in the repair shop gave me a demo on how to get them on and off.

If you are going to be cycling a lot - a comfy seat is a must, so gel seat/ and or padded pants.

Decent lights and high visibility outer wear.

I cycle commute.

I have an Osprey cycling specific rucksack which is comfy. I need a small rucksack for work as I have to go around a fairly big uni campus once I’m at work. Otherwise just pannier bags and a rack might have been better.

I’d recommend getting the tyres changed to Scwalbe marathon plus which are meant to be pretty much puncture proof. Never had a puncture in 4 years of commuting and I commute on a tow path not tarmac.

The tyres you have will/should have some numbers on for inner tube size. So wheels will either be road bike/hybrid size (700) or mountain bike (26). Then it depends on the width of the tyre. If I got a puncture on the way to work I’d change the tube rather than try to patch it at the roadside. You can take the holed tube home and repair it later if you want.

Muck off is a good cleaner. Squirt lube for the chain after cleaning it. Dry the chain with an old rag when it gets wet even if you don’t clean it.

Have at least two rear lights and two front lights incase one fails. Especially for rear light as you would notice. My helmet has an inbuilt rear light.

If you lock your bike in the same place at work leave the D lock locked round the bike stand at work to save you carrying the weight about.

Think these are the lights I have.

www.amazon.co.uk/Rechargeable-Headlight-%E3%80%90Upgrade-rechargeable-taillight/dp/B081SPFP5L/ref=sr_1_19?dchild=1&crid=1S1EZVL78HR6D&keywords=bike+lights&sprefix=Bike%2Caps%2C179&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1611510156&sr=8-19

Get some of those disposal gloves from a petrol station.
Useful to keep your hands clean if you need to do some on-the-road maintenance like putting the chain back on.

Will you actually cycle in bad weather, OP??
How far is it each way, will you go slower to avoid getting too sweaty?

Nobody but me uses bike bells.

Keep lock at work if that's the only place you actually need to lock bike (save you weight).

Most the stuff listed here I wouldn't have, I value traveling light more highly. But pannier rack + pannier bags yes.

You can get away with basic lights if it's all town/city cycling. Country lanes need a lot brighter illumination.

I don’t wear any cycling specific clothing. I cycle 7 miles each way. Gym leggings, trainers, t shirt or thermal top in winter. Wear a soft shell jacket or in winter I wear a Duvet jacket. I do wear a buff. I have a shower when I get to work and change.